Goodbye wonderful Summer.

Summer in the rear view.

The Chill

The chill is setting in and Fall is inevitable. As much as I hate to see Summer end, a lot of great memories come rushing back when I feel and smell that Autumn air. I am taken back to the week we were engaged at the Isle of Palms, SC, it was very romantic and special. Then the beach trip last year where we bathed under the warm sun, but swimming was not possible because of the chill. Also, we shared our last vacation as a family of three there.

The memory of high school football games hits me, even though I rarely participated in any functions at school, it was a great memory of getting out in the evening, smelling the fresh cut grass from the field and listening to Mr. Brady giving the play-by-play.

There are more memories than I can account here but they are all good and make me feel warm inside even though the chill is coming fast and strong.

I love Fall even though I rarely say that out loud. It is a great buffer for the frigid cold that I dread.

This weekend we will have our last Summer hurrah in our backyard with family and friends and that makes me sad, but I will probably bank it in the file of great memories that rush back when Fall arrives.

It's the first Fall for Tori and the first for me as a mother of two.

Now that's a great memory.

Outrageous birthday wishes

These are some of the very practical things I would never ask for my birthday, but I could really use:

A tune up for my car
Decor for our new bedroom and bathroom
Maid service
A closet organizer
Shopping with a stylist
Lottery tickets
A tropic vacation for all four of us
A project finisher
A gardner

All this would give me more time with my family, eliminate some of my angst about not getting around to things and possibly make me rich.
Ridiculous it is but I bet a lot of people secretly wish for these too.

Out with the new and in with the old.

I've never been a huge fan of change. I think that comes from all the changes that went on during my childhood. I really like sameness only sprinkled with excitement. So, last week when I went and got my hair drastically cut I thought I might freak out, but I didn't. I actually feel like myself again. I used to have really cute, young girl hair and then I grew it out after Bella was born. I was putting it up ALL the time and that got old.
I'm turning 30 on Sunday. This strikes me as a change and that pushes me to want to make sure all stays the same. Yes, we have a new baby but we've had a new baby before so it's still kinda the same old deal. I used to work out and fit into cute clothes. Well, by golly, I will do that again. Basically, I want to push myself back a few years just to feel comfortable about turning another year older.
This very confusing post does have meaning. I want my old life back.
The past couple of months have been selfless, hard work. I want myself back. I want to be pleased with me on a day-to-day basis.
I used to set goals and achieve them and last week I set another goal.
I'm writing again somewhere other than here. I am writing a magazine article. I don't know what magazine or when, but I hope sometime soon it can be published.
I contacted my former Journalism teacher and she's on board to help.
I am so excited I could just giggle.
And, that makes for a happy 30th birthday week!

What's new:

Bella has a secret. She doesn't know that it's a secret and she doesn't really mean for it to be a secret, but she won't tell us what is going on in school.
Her teacher is busy when we pick up and drop off, making sure the right kids go to the right parents and all. The teacher said that Bella was laughing with another kid the first day and today she came home with a friendship bracelet from Cecil. She has her own life there and she won't tell us very much about it.

In other news, we all have colds. Bella's had it the longest and I think she on the down hill from here. Now I have it and I want so badly to just sleep it off. It's the traditional head cold. My head feels like it weighs a million pounds and will explode with mucus any minute.
Poor little Tori even has the swollen eyes, cough and congestion. It's pitiful to see a sick baby, even if it is only a cold.

In over my head

TGIF!
It's my last day of my first week back at work. I am going into the weekend EXCITED to sit in my pj's nursing the baby and cleaning my house.
I long for the simplicity.

Picture the future

This is Bella's first day at preschool. I can see the future.

First day back

Wake up early, nurse the baby, throw on clothes and tie my hair in a knot because it's off to work I go. I am officially back at it. Change is the only thing constant around here lately. As soon as I get used to one schedule it up and changes. My job is not glamorous but it's has its rewards. I get to be with adults, keep my brain connections on their toes and worry about stuff other than how much dust my house collected today. It's freeing having a job, driving alone and eating a lunch sitting down. I've been trying to get my body ready for it's job too. Since I have a tendency to be a stress ball, I went ahead and started lifting weights to get my muscles back in shape so my neck and back don't kill me. The baby weight is starting to melt away too and that makes me feel very good. So good, I'm looking forward to getting back in my old clothes and possibly looking forward to shopping again.
But now it's time to plan for Bella's first day of school tomorrow. I'm getting her book bag ready tonight. It doesn't have books but they do require the kids to bring a bag full of stuff for emergencies and lunch. Her classroom is so cute and the teacher seemed really good at her job. I am excited for Bella. She is ready. She loves learning and I am no teacher, though I have thought about becoming one for a while now. We do so much with her but she is too smart for us to be the only people forming her knowledge. Oh, my little baby is growing up TOO FAST!!!
We are so lucky.
Tori couldn't be a better baby so far. She sleeps great at night with occasional wakings. She falls asleep easily and hasn't cried for more than 10 minutes ever. She too is getting huge and studies us, her hands and her surroundings drinking in every experience with beautiful curiosity. Whew. My cup runneth over... again.
Here's to the upcoming fall and and my new schedule with my TWO kids. It still sounds strange to me, but wonderful.